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Dear Friend, periodically we’ll be posting Pastor Peter’s sermons, like this one, on the last Sunday’s texts from the lectionary. We pray they edify you!

Here he goes again, Jesus has another clash with the Pharisees. They can never answer his questions, can they? Per usual, Jesus whips out a parable to address his opponents. Jesus tells the story of the wicked vineyard tenants who kill the servants that the owner sends to collect his due. These wicked tenants are bold enough to even kill the owner’s son! Then, Jesus asks the Pharisees a question, “what will he (the owner) do to those tenants?” They leap in with a vehement response, ‘he will put those wretches to a miserable death!’ This is of course the correct response; there can’t possibly be another reply to such wicked people, right? Well, Jesus certainly doesn’t contradict their condemnation.

This situation is reminiscent of Isaiah 5, where we see the shared  imagery of a vineyard and God again addressing his people with a question. God asks, “What more was there to do for my vineyard,  that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?” The answer here is as rhetorical as it is obvious; nothing more could have been done. God provided everything his people needed to flourish, but instead they rebelled. God is fully justified in abandoning the vineyard to destruction, there is nothing of worth left in it.

These stories are just fine until they get personal. What would I say to Jesus if he asked me these questions? How would I respond when he tells me that I am the wicked tenant, I am the unruly grape vine? What answer could I possibly give to God at that moment?

There is no answer. And if I am honest, I would agree with the Pharisees that God ought to put me to a miserable death. For indeed, the wild fruits of wickedness grow in me. I need not search far and wide to find my rebelliousness.

The truth is I am a faithless rebel who constantly strives to throw off the constraints of God’s good kingdom. I want “good enough” to be good enough. God’s law is too harsh and demanding! God calls me to sacrificial love, but he asks for the impossible! What a cruel dictator!

Faithless indeed, I have no trust that God is for me, especially when I consider all that I’ve done to oppose him! How could I ever trust God, who I’ve made my enemy? So, I entrench myself even further in opposition to God, even being willing to shoot the messengers he sends to me. What possible outcome awaits me apart from judgment?

So, here at the end, it is imperative  to talk about the death of the miserable wretch. I’ve done the crime, I’ll do the time, right? I’ve got no legitimate case before God. I'm left without anything to stand on; I’ve got no foundation to hold me up under the accusations. After all, Jesus’ words to the Pharisees and to me are harsh. He makes it absolutely clear where I stand in relationship to God.

But Jesus’ actions also make it clear where God stands in relationship to me. In  fact, later that same week that Jesus blasted the religious leaders with scalding words of judgment, he laid down his life on the cross for them. He suffered a miserable death, a criminal’s death, the death I deserved. Jesus died with the words, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do,” on his lips.

The cross makes it clear. Yes, we are opposed to God, but God is not opposed to us. His heart is to die for us rather than see us perish! You are forgiven!

Because, in contrast to our rebellious ways, Jesus Christ was totally faithful. He fully trusted God and was obedient to the end. He is the rightful tenant of God’s kingdom. Where you and I are lacking, Christ abounds! You can lean upon his perfection for your justification! Think no more of your rebellious ways and their due judgment! God certainly doesn’t! Dwell on Jesus and his worthiness! Trust in his righteousness! You are redeemed!

Amen.

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